The above shows evidence from the Head of Parkside Sixth via email correspondence of my participation in the Open Evenings.
During June 2013, I volunteered to help out my college, Parkside Sixth, at open evenings. I attended 5 open evenings and 1 open day, telling prospective students about our facilities and informing them about the IB.
How did I increase awareness of my strengths and areas for growth?
My areas for growth were definitely increasing my confidence and communicational skills with people I didn't know.
How did I undertake new challenges?
I had never really felt confident enough to talk to people I didn't know but I really got into the open evenings and felt like I was helping people to make informed decisions about their futures.
How did I plan and initiate activities?
I volunteered for all of the open evenings that I could, though I did not initiate or plan them.
How did I work collaboratively with others?
I worked collaboratively with other volunteers, such as BTEC Performing Arts and Health and Social Care students, in order to give prospective students a rounded view of Parkside Sixth.
How did I show perseverance and commitment on my activity?
I committed to every open evening opportunity I could, even when others didn't. I also stayed to clear up on several of the evenings, to help the staff at the various schools.
How did I engage with issues of global importance?
Several international students, unsure about whether they should come to England for their sixth form study came to the open evenings, so in that respect there was an international element to my activity. I also explained to many candidates about the IB's international dimension- in that studying abroad is made much easier if one studies the IB.
How did I consider the ethical implications of my actions?
I was worried that I could have convinced somebody to do the IB when A levels would have suited them better, however ultimately that is a personal choice and volunteers for Parkside were just offering another possibility for all of the prospective students.
How did I develop new skills?
I improved my communicational skills massively.
